A couple of hours had passed since Captain Brown left. As the sun faded away, casting a golden glow over the quiet streets, the orphanage children slowly returned home. The chill of winter hung in the air, urging everyone in the village to head inside sooner than usual.
"Has Shirou come back yet?" Cherry asked, stepping out to the entrance where Chris was keeping an eye on the children as they arrived.
"No, and Alica and her friends haven't returned either," Chris replied, worry evident in his voice.
"Did they forget what day today is? Maybe we should go look for them," Cherry suggested, concern flickering across her face.
But before they could do anything, Alica and the others appeared at the gate, laughing and chatting. Spotting Cherry and Chris waiting, they waved energetically.
"Cherry sister! Chris brother! Why are you waiting outside?" Alica called out.
"Look at the time, it's already an hour past five," Cherry scolded, her tone mixed with relief and irritation.
"But it's just six, and we're not little kids anymore," Dake said with a confident grin.
Chris chuckled. "You're not adults either. And did you forget? We need to prepare everything for tonight."
"Prepare?" Vanessa echoed, a look of realization dawning on her face.
"Yes, today is a special day," Chris said with a smile.
Everyone nodded, sharing secretive grins.
"Don't worry, this village is quiet and safe. Even if we stayed out at night, nothing would happen to us," Jack said confidently.
"Yeah, you're a little too protective, sister Cherry," Vanessa teased.
Cherry sighed dramatically. "These children…"
Then, noticing Shirou still wasn't with them, she frowned, "And what about Shirou?"
"We haven't seen him all day," Sabrina answered.
Cherry's eyes narrowed, her cheeks puffing with frustration. "That red-eyed, white-haired little demon! This time, when he gets back, I swear I'll punish him so he remembers never to worry me again!"
All the children silently thought, "You always say that, but when he returns, you just hug him and say how much you missed him."
Chris smiled and said, "Shirou always returns before dinner. Let's go inside and finish our preparations."
The group entered the orphanage, their voices echoing down the hall.
---
Far away, atop a mountain cliff, five shadowy figures watched the village, cloaked in heavy garments to shield them from the cold. Below them, a fearsome group of criminals, beastmen, and skeletons awaited orders.
"This is going to be so much fun," one of the figures sneered.
"Don't underestimate Sarah," the second warned, his voice low and serious. "She's not at her full strength, but she's still an upper-class player."
The third figure shrugged. "Can't we just let the monsters deal with her?"
The fourth figure cracked his knuckles. "Where's the fun in that? I want to fight the woman who defeated the Demon Queen!"
The final figure imposed a silence, his presence radiating authority. "Enough. Sarah's protected by the Creator. Even the gods are careful around her. Follow the plan, or we won't survive tonight. We begin now."
With that, hundreds of figures slid down the mountain toward the village, while the five leaders walked into the night, vanishing from sight.
---
Meanwhile, Sarah sat in her chair, lost in thought, remembering Captain Brown's words. She barely noticed Cherry knock and enter the room.
"Mother Sarah, dinner is ready!" Cherry called.
Sarah didn't respond, distracted, until Cherry called louder.
"Oh—yes? What is it?" Sarah said, snapping out of her thoughts.
"I said dinner is ready," Cherry repeated with a gentle smile.
"You go ahead, I'll be right there," Sarah managed, waving her off.
A rumble of thunder echoed, a flash of lightning illuminating the window. Sarah murmured, "Looks like it might rain tonight," and followed Cherry out.
Descending the stairs, she stopped when she noticed the hallway was entirely dark.
"Cherry? Why is it so dark down here?" Sarah called out. There was only silence.
"This could be dangerous. Stop playing around and turn on the lights, Cherry," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Suddenly, the lights blazed on and a cascade of cheerful voices rang out—
"Surprise! Happy Mother's Day, Mom!"
Sarah stared, wide-eyed. The entire room was decorated with flowers and streamers; a bright banner hung in the center:
**"Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for always taking care of us!"**
For a moment, she was speechless, her hand rising to her chest as the children gathered around her.
Alica, Vanessa, and Cherry hurried to her side, all beaming with excitement. Chris presented a homemade cake, its lone candle glowing warmly in the center of the table.
Sarah let out a breathless laugh. "Y-you all did this… for me?"
"Of course!" Cherry said with a grin. "You're our mom—even if you're not old!"
Everyone laughed. "Make a wish, Mom!" Dake encouraged.
With trembling hands, Sarah closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candle. When she looked up, her vision blurred—not from the candle's smoke, but from the tears welling in her eyes.
Seeing this, the children gasped. "Sarah, are you okay?" Cherry asked softly.
Alica and Vanessa hurried to comfort her, and Chris squeezed her shoulder. Sarah tried to speak but her voice caught in her throat.
Finally, she smiled—brighter and warmer than ever before. "Thank you… Thank you all so much. I love you, every one of you."
The room erupted with hugs and laughter. The children lined up, each taking their turn to hand Sarah a handmade gift—drawings, crafts, and little notes, each one cherishing her as their mother.
Sarah thanked each child personally, cherishing every embrace and laugh as the evening melted into a memory she would treasure forever.
And on that special night, surrounded by her family, Sarah felt truly blessed.